CHAPTER XVII
A CRASH IN THE NIGHT
WITH a mighty effort Gysbert drew back the massive bolt and chain that bad so long kept them prisoners, pushed open the demolished door, and they stood outside the room—free at last!
“Go cautiously!” warned he. “We are not yet absolutely sure that everyone is out of the bouse. But I have this knife, if we meet anyone, and it comes to the worst. We won’t try to go down stairs,—it would be like diving into a tank!” And indeed the water had entered the bouse and crept three-quarters of the way up the staircase, while bumping against the ceiling of the rooms below, floated articles of Vrouw Hansleer’s cherished furniture.
From room to room on the second floor
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